7500-Rn RADON*
7500-Rn A. Introduction
1. Occurrence and Significance
Radon-222 is a gaseous decay product of naturally occurring
radium-226. It is an alpha-emitter with a 3.82-d half-life, and
normally is of concern only in groundwater. It is considered to be
carcinogenic, as are its short-lived daughters. In household air,
radon may originate from radium in building materials and the
surrounding soil. Where radon concentration in the water supply
is high, the water also can be a major source of radon in
household air. While radon dissolves readily in water and other
solvents, it is easily displaced from water by air; thus, aeration of
radon-bearing water in normal household uses can release a
significant fraction of the dissolved radon to the air.13
The average 222Rn concentration in community groundwater
systems in the U.S. is estimated to range from 200 to 600
pCi/L,2 6 with some individual wells having much higher con-
centrations.
*Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2006.
Joint Task Group: 20th EditionStephen H. Pia (chair), Loren A. Berge, C.
Richard Cothern, Paul B. Hahn, Vernon F. Hodge, Nancy E. Kinner, S. Kusum
Perera, George S. Uyesugi.
7500-Rn B. Liquid Scintillation Method
1. General Discussion
a. Principle: This method is specific for radon-222 (radon) in
drinking water. Radon is partitioned selectively into a mineral-
oil scintillation cocktail immiscible with the water sample. The
sample is dark-adapted and equilibrated, and then counted in a
liquid scintillation counter using a region or window of the
energy spectrum optimal for radon alpha particles. Results are
reported as pCi/L.
The procedure has been developed for the analysis of radon in
drinking water supplies from groundwater and surface-water
sources. Applications of this analytical procedure to matrices
other than drinking water have not been studied; use caution in
analyzing any such samples.
b. Interferences: There are no known chemical interferences
from species found in drinking water nor from the dilute con-
centration of acid that may be present in the calibration stan-
dards. Uranium, radium, or other radioactive elements would
cause a positive bias, if present in quantities significantly greater
than the radon.
Diffusion of radon is affected by temperature and pressure. Let
samples equilibrate to room temperature before processing.
Precision and accuracy of the method are affected by the
background in the energy window used for analysis. A procedure
1
2. References
1. PARTRIDGE, J.E., T.R. HORTON & E.L. SENSINTAFFAR. 1979. A Study of
Radon-222 Released from Water During Typical Household Activ-
ities. ORP/EERF-79 1, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility,
Montgomery, Ala.
2. SMITH, B.M., W.N. GRUNE, F.B. HIGGINS, JR. & J.G. TERRILL, JR. 1961.
Natural radioactivity in ground water supplies in Maine and New
Hampshire. J. Amer. Water Works Assoc. 53:75.
3. ALDRICH, L.K., III, M.K. SASSER & D.A. CONNERS, IV. 1975. Evalu-
ation of Radon Concentrations in North Carolina Ground Water
Supplies. Dept. Human Resources, Div. Facility Services, Radiation
Protection Branch, Raleigh, N.C.
4. OCONNELL, M.F. & R.F. KAUFMAN. 1976. Radioactivity Associated
with Geothermal Waters in the Western United States. U.S. Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency Technical Note ORP/LV-75-8A.
5. DUNCAN, D.L., T.F. GESELL & R.H. JOHNSON, JR. 1976. Radon-222 in
potable water. In Proc. Health Physics Soc. 10th Midyear Topical
Symposium: Natural Radioactivity in Mans Environment.
6. COTHERN, C.R. & P.A. REBERS. 1990. Radon, Radium, and Uranium
in Drinking Water. Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Mich.
is provided for selection of the analytical window to minimize
the background contribution to the measurement.
Some cocktails will become progressively quenched by atmo-
spheric oxygen after opening. This problem has not been noted
for the mineral-oil-based cocktail. For other than mineral-oil-
based cocktails, check weekly for quenching.
Radon has an affinity for some plastics used in sample con-
tainers. Use only glass sample containers or glass scintillation
vials with TFE or foil-lined caps.
c. Sample preservation, storage, and holding time: Collect
samples from a nonaerated faucet that has been allowed to flow
for sufficient time so that the sample is representative of the
water in the distribution system or well. The following procedure
will minimize the loss of radon from the sample during collec-
tion:
Place a glass sample vial in a 300- to 600-mL beaker or other
suitable container; attach delivery tube to faucet, and start the
flow. Make sure that delivery tube does not let bubbles enter the
sample. Fill vial to prevent its floating, then fill beaker until vial
is submerged. Place tip of delivery tube about two thirds of the
way into vial and fill until approximately two or more vial
volumes (50 to 100 mL) have been displaced. Carefully remove
vial by hand or with a pair of 25-cm (10 in.) tweezers and cap
vial with a TFE or foil-lined cap. Cap sample vials underwater,
 RADON (7500-Rn)/Liquid Scintillation Method
if possible. Invert sample and check for air bubbles. If any
bubbles are present, discard sample and repeat sampling proce-
dure.
Alternatively, collect samples in containers other than scintil-
lation vials, with similar precautions.
Record date and time of sample collection and store sample in
a cooler. Transport samples to laboratory in a cooler or other
suitable insulated package to avoid large temperature changes
and outgassing of radon. Begin counting within 4 d or applicable
regulatory specified holding time.
d. Minimum detectable concentration: 18 pCi/L for a 50-min
count time, 6 cpm background, 6 cpm/pCi calibration factor, and
energy region optimized by the procedure in 4b.
2. Apparatus
a. Pipet: 5-mL mechanical pipet or syringe.
b. Scintillation cocktail dispenser adjustable to deliver 5 mL.
c. Liquid scintillation counter: Preferably use a system per-
mitting automatic spectral analysis.
d. Faucet connector or universal faucet adapter.
e. Plastic tubing for connector or adapter.
f. Scintillation vials: 23-mL glass vials with caps, TFE or
foil-lined.
g. Volumetric glassware.
h. Sample storage and shipping containers, insulated.
3. Reagents
a. Scintillation cocktail: Water-immiscible high-efficiency
mineral oil cocktail or other commercial equivalent.
b. Hydrochloric acid, HCl, conc.
c. Water, radon-free demineralized or equivalent.
d. Radium solution: Use two dilutions for calibration and
check standards. Use NIST-traceable (explicit or implicit) radi-
um-226 standard solution.
4. Procedure
a. Calibration: Prepare 100 mL radium-226 in water stan-
dard such that the final activity will be approximately 8000
pCi/L by the procedure suggested below. Transfer standard to
a scintillation vial or other suitable container, seal, and record
initial mass to nearest 0.0001 g. To a 100-mL volumetric flask
add 20 mL water and 0.5 mL conc HCl; stopper. Transfer with
a pipet, or suitable dropper, the required mass of radium
solution into flask; re-weigh vial. Obtain actual mass of
radium solution added by difference of final and initial
weights. Fill to mark and mix.
Transfer 15 mL diluted standard into scintillation vial, to
which has been added 5 mL mineral oil cocktail. Prepare at least
three standards and three backgrounds using distilled or deion-
ized water. The relative percent deviation spread of the resultant
calibration factors should be 5%.
Set standards and background samples aside for at least
25 d (99% ingrowth) to allow radon progeny to attain secular
2
equilibrium with radium-226. Determine optimal analytical
window as outlined in 4b below. After ingrowth period, let
sample dark-adapt for 3 h if necessary and count for 50 min.
Repeat counting two additional times. From pooled results
calculate a system calibration factor by the following expres-
sion:
S B
CF
C V
where:
CF calibration factor, cpm/pCi,
S standard counting rate, cpm,
B background counting rate, cpm,
C concentration of radium-226 standard, pCi/L, and
V volume of standard used, 0.015 L.
b. Selecting optimal window: Count a radon standard for 5 min
or sufficient time to acquire several thousand counts or more in
the alpha region and generate a sample spectrum. For greater
clarity use a log scale for the channel number or energy axis if
possible.
The alpha activity region of interest will be obvious as one
or two large peaks at the higher end of the energy spectrum.
The lower peak is the doublet of radon-222 and polonium-218
and the higher peak is that of polonium-214. The optimal
window is formed by extending the region by approximately
10 channels on each side of the alpha peaks. Use this window
for subsequent calibration and analysis. Calibration factor
should be at least 6 cpm/pCi with the background not exceed-
ing 6 cpm.
For counters not having a spectrum display, set window
initially wide-open and count for sufficient time to obtain
several thousand counts. Adjust energy window to a width of
5% of full scale at upper end of scale (95 to 100%) and
determine count rate in the region. Repeat counts at succes-
sively lower regions using the same 5% interval (90 to 95, 85
to 90, 80 to 85, etc.). Plot count rate versus midpoint of
interval and choose region of interest, which will be evident
by one or two prominent peaks in the upper half of the energy
scale. Calibration factor should be at least 6 cpm/pCi with the
background not exceeding 6 cpm.
c. Analysis of samples: Carefully remove by pipet 8.5 mL
sample from the scintillation vial used for collection and add 5
mL water-immiscible scintillation cocktail. Alternatively, pipet,
without turbulence, a 15-mL portion to a scintillation vial con-
taining 5 mL cocktail if sample was collected in a different
container.
Cap and shake sample for 30 s and set aside in the dark for a
minimum of 3 h to equilibrate radon progeny and dark-adapt
sample. Count all samples within the regulation specified hold-
ing time. The time of sample collection is the initial time for
decay correction.
Count a standard for 5 min or longer if required and either
examine spectrum or compare results to previous standards to
determine if there has been any shift or quench due to changes
in the cocktail or instrument drift. Count samples for 50 min
or to a percent 2 counting error of 10% or for a period of
 RADON (7500-Rn)/Liquid Scintillation Method
time to achieve an uncertainty in the net counting rate corre-
sponding to program data quality objectives using optimized
window settings for alpha counting. Make sure the expression
used includes the background in the uncertainty computation.
This may have to be done manually because most instruments
calculate the uncertainty only for the gross counting rate.
5. Calculations
Calculate concentration of radon-222 in pCi/L from the fol-
lowing equation:
G B
Rn, pCi/L
CF D V
where:
G gross counting rate of sample, cpm,
B background counting rate, cpm,
CF calibration factor (see 4a),
V volume of sample (0.015 L), and
D decay factor for Rn-222 between time of collection and
midpoint of counting period for that sample.
Calculate 2 (95% confidence level) counting uncertainty, as:
2
G
TG TB
B
2, pCi/L CF D V
where:
TG duration of sample count, and
TB duration of background count.
Report 2 uncertainty with each drinking water radioactivity
concentration result. This term represents the uncertainty due to
the random nature of radioactive decay; it is related to count time
and can be used to determine whether sample was counted long
enough to satisfy any required precision criteria. If percent
counting error (2 counting error divided by activity concentra-
tion) exceeds precision requirements, count sample longer or
reduce the holding time on re-collected samples.
Report result and counting error together in the form:
X 2 pCi/L, 2 counting error
For example, for a water sample with calculated radon-222
concentration of 285 pCi/L and 2 counting error of 27 pCi/L,
report result as:
222
Rn: 285 27 pCi/L, 2 counting error
6. Quality Control
a. Background samples: Include a minimum of two back-
ground samples with each batch of 20 samples. Place back-
grounds as first and next-to-last samples of batch. Use average of
3
these backgrounds to calculate results for batch. The background
should be 6 cpm.
For a suitable background sample, use laboratory deionized wa-
ter, or prepare by boiling 2 L laboratory radium- and uranium-free
tap water to remove residual radon if present. Store the cooled tap
water in a capped 2-L bottle.
b. Duplicate samples: Collect duplicate field samples for one
out of every ten samples. Preferably collect all samples in
duplicate if the number of samples from an individual client
represents a single source. Ensure that at least 10% of the
samples analyzed daily are duplicates, and that duplicate
analyses have a relative percent difference (RPD) less than
or equal to the percent 2 counting error or 10% of the
decay-corrected radon concentration, whichever is greater.
Relative percent difference is calculated by the following
expression:
Analysis 1 Analysis 2 200
RPD
Analysis 1 Analysis 2
Record the RPD and note acceptability of the duplicate anal-
ysis. If RPD exceeds the limits, recount duplicates. If results still
exceed limits but RPD for the quality control check standard is
acceptable, a problem with the sampling procedure may exist.
Resolve problem before collecting and analyzing additional sam-
ples.
c. Quality control check standard (QCCS): QCCSs are prepared
from a dilution of radium different from that used to prepare
standards and should have a nominal activity of 8000 pCi/L. Place
first QCCS immediately after first background and before first
sample. Place additional QCCS after every tenth sample in batch,
and final QCCS as last sample of the batch.
The relative percent difference (RPD) between sequential
pairs of QCCS samples must be less than or equal to the 2
counting error or 10% of the known value of the QCCS sample,
whichever is greater. If RPD exceeds this value, recount the pair
of QCCS samples. If RPD is still unacceptable, standards and/or
instrument are suspect. Resolve problem and rerun samples
between suspect QCCS.
d. Records: Collect and maintain results from backgrounds,
duplicate pairs, and QCCS standards in a bound notebook;
include date, results, name of analyst, and comments relevant to
data evaluation.
Plot averages of backgrounds and QCCS standards on a con-
trol chart for the counter.
7. Precision and Bias
A collaborative study of this method composed of 36 partic-
ipants1 produced the results shown below:
Sample Conc. Accuracy Repeatability Reproducibility Bias
pCi/L % pCi/L pCi/L %
111 101102 9 12 0.72.3
153 102103 10 1618 2.33.4
8. Reference
1. PIA, S.H. & P.B. HAHN. 1992. Radiation Research and Methods
Validation Annual Report 1992. Environmental Monitoring Systems
 RADON (7500-Rn)/Liquid Scintillation Method
LaboratoryLas Vegas, Off. Research and Development, U.S. En-
vironmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nev.
9. Bibliography
YOUDEN, W.J. & E.H. STEINER. 1975. Statistical Manual of the Associ-
ation of Official Analytical Chemists. Assoc. of Official Analytical
Chemists, McLean, Va.
PRICHARD, H.M. & T.F. GESELL. 1977. Rapid measurements of Rn-222
concentrations in water with a common liquid scintillation counter.
Health Phys. J. 33:577.
WHITTAKER, E.L., J.D. AKRIDGE & J. GIOVINO. 1987. Two Test Proce-
dures for Radon in Drinking Water. EPA/600/2 87/082, U.S. En-
vironmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nev.
VITZ, E. 1991. Toward a standard method for determining waterborne
radon. Health Phys. 60:817.
LOWRY, J.D. 1991. Measuring low radon levels in drinking water sup-
plies. J. Amer. Water Works Assoc. 83(4):149.
C OMMITTEE ON R ISK A SSESSMENT OF E XPOSURE TO R ADON IN
DRINKING WATER, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL. 1999. Risk
Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water. National
Academy Press, Washington, D.C.